The Union Minister of State for Home, Mr Jitendra Singh, today said that his Ministry was hopeful that a consensus on the NCTC Bill would emerge at the meeting of state chief ministers with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on May 5.

He said that the proposed National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) would provide states with more powers to deal with terrorism,

"They (state chief ministers) have some reservations. They want the ‘Standing Operating Procedures’ to be laid first.

There has been some confusion and in the next meeting on May 5, all doubts would be cleared,'' the Minister said after giving away trophies to the winners of 12th All India Police Rifle and Revolver firing competition at BSF’s Reoti Range near here.

“Terrorism is a major issue facing the country...if the country does not have effective law, how are we going to face the challenge...we need stronger law. What I understand is that the NCTC will make states stronger and would provide them with more powers to deal with terrorism,” Mr Singh observed.

“I had talks with the CMs, especially of non-Congress states. I do not see any politics behind the non-Congress ruled CMs’ reservation on NCTC, anyone can read the bill...NIA was also constituted like this...I am hopeful there would be a consensus in the next meeting of Prime Minister with CMs on May 5,” he said.

The proposal to set up NCTC, the anti-terror agency, has not found favour with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, as well as Opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu’s Ms Jayalalithaa, Gujarat’s Mr Narendra Modi and Odisha’s Mr Naveen Patnaik as they say it goes against the concept of federalism.

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